Vatican Says Pope Allegations Have No Merit

By

John D. Stoll

Updated March 15, 2013 2:17 p.m. ET

ROME—The Vatican on Friday moved to discredit allegations that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis this week, didn't do enough to protect a pair of activist priests during the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 through 1983.

Fordham University Theology Chairman Dr. Terrence Tilley discusses the election of Pope Francis and the challenges he will face. Pope Francis is the first Pope to come from the Americas. Photo: Getty Images.

The Vatican said the "campaign against Cardinal Bergoglio is well known and goes back to many years," and that the allegations have no merit. He has been questioned about the situation by Argentine authorities and has made many public declarations that he protected people during the dictatorship and "promoted the whole cause of reconciliation in the church of Argentina," the Vatican said.

The allegations, from an Argentine journalist who published a book on the country's Dirty War, which was fought in the 1970s, have created a small cloud over Cardinal Bergoglio's otherwise well-received election as the 266th pope. In his first days in the job, Francis has set a tone of humility and spontaneity by at times shrugging off the trappings that typically accompany the papacy and giving off-the-cuff remarks during Mass.

Pope Francis on the Job

The newly elected Pope Francis and his supporters were out and about in Vatican City on Thursday. Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

But his behavior while provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina as the military dictatorship was in place has received enough attention that Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi took time during his daily press briefings to address it. At issue is whether Francis took aggressive enough action to keep safe two priests that were kidnapped and allegedly tortured by the regime.

The Vatican characterized the allegations as having a left-wing anticlerical motive and being carried out by a publication that specializes in campaigns that are at times filled with lies. "There has never been an accusation concrete and credible in this regard," the Vatican said, adding that the allegations are "firmly and clearly denied."

Father Lombardi also noted that Argentine peace laureate Perez Esquivel absolved Francis of collaboration with the dictatorship. In a column on his official website, Mr. Esquivel said he did not consider the new pope "an accomplice" of the dictatorship, but added that he wished Francis had shown more courage at the time in confronting the regime.

In the Vatican's response to the allegations in the kidnapping situation, details continued to emerge on Francis' modest papal style. According to Father Lombardi, Francis has been sitting and eating casually with cardinals before they return to their homes to prepare for Holy Week.

On Wednesday night, shortly after being named pope, Francis called bishops in Argentina asking them to not attend the coming papal installation because the money would be better spent serving the poor, Father Lombardi said. On Thursday, when Francis returned to his former living quarters to collect his bags and settle accounts, his actions inspired tears of staff members as the pontiff remembered names of employees and inquired into the well-being of their families.

Father Lombardi said Vatican officials are preparing for the "spontaneity" and "openness" that are hallmarks of Francis. During a speech on Friday morning, Francis took a step that is uncharacteristically casual for the papacy by calling the cardinals "brothers." During the speech, Francis often strayed from prepared remarks, calling on cardinals to evangelize, remain optimistic amid storms, and citing work by one of his favorite poets, the German Friedrich Holderlin.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.